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[Cites 8, Cited by 0]

Delhi District Court

Satyender Kumar Patel vs M/S Manappuram Finance Ltd on 16 November, 2023

                 IN THE COURT OF SH. AJAY GOEL:
            PRESIDING OFFICER INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNAL-I,
            ROUSE AVENUE DISTRICT COURTS, NEW DELHI.
                                     Ref: F.3(244)/16/Ref./wd/lab/944
                                                    Dated: 27.09.2016

       POIT NO.: 1111/2016

       Workman

       Sh. Satyender Kumar Patel
       S/o Sh. Bechai Patel,
       R/o Village Rehav, Post Adua Bazar,
       District Maharajganj,
       Uttar Pradesh-273303
       Also at:
       C/o Delhi Mazdoor Sangh (Regd.)
       A-217, Karampura, New Delhi-110015.

                                    Vs.

       The Management of

       1. M/s. Manappuram Finance Ltd.
       Building No. G-1/155, Above Bank of India
       In front of Metro Pillar No. 677,
       Najafgarh Road, Uttam Nagar,
       New Delhi-110059.

       2. M/s. Manappuram Finance Ltd.
       IV/470A (OLD) W638A, (New)
       Manappuram House Valappad,
       Thrissur, Kerela-680567.

       Date of Institution    :           05.12.2016
       Date of presentation   :           17.05.2023
       before this court
       Date of Arguments      :           16.11.2023
       Date of Award          :           16.11.2023



POIT-1111/2016                                         Page No. 1/19
                                       AWAR D

   1.                 The Labour Department, Govt. of the National Capital
        Territory of Delhi has referred this dispute arising between the
        parties named above for adjudication to this Tribunal vide
        notification F.3(244)/16/Ref./wd/Lab/944, dated: 27.09.2016 with
        following terms of the reference:-

                 "Whether the punishment imposed upon the workman Sh.
                  Satyender Kumar Patel S/o Sh. Bechai Patel            by the
                  management vide memo No. S./Enq./315381/6/2016
                  dated 06.05.2016 is illegal and unsatisfied and if so, to
                  what relief is he entitled and what directions are
                  necessary in this respect?"

   2.            Statement of Claim has been filed on behalf of the workman
        stating therein that the workman had been in employment of the
        management at Delhi as Junior Assistant @ Rs. 10,386/- per month
        for the last since 25.07.2015 continuously with a flawless record of
        service.     It is stated that workman was given a memo dated
        03.03.2016 by post with a false and frivolous allegation of
        misappropriation of Rs. 41,10,625/- in connivance with other
        employees which was appropriately replied by the workman to the
        management.

   3.             It is averred that workman lodged a complaint to the Labour
        Office in this regard and on 29.07.2016 on Sh. Raghav Aggarwal,
        Legal Manager appeared and stated taht enquiry has already been
        closed and shall pay the wages of suspension period, even though
        suspension is closed. It is stated that no enquiry on the charges was

POIT-1111/2016                                               Page No. 2/19
         conducted by management so the question of closing the enquiry
        does not arise at all and instead of it, the management by imposing
        the punishment, transferred the workman at Hibbal, Mesur Branch
        and also stopped the promotion for three years for which the
        workman also replied the same to management on 29.04.2016.

   4.             It is averred that when the management took back the charge
        sheet and no enquiry was conducted then how the penalty was
        imposed against the workman by transferring and stopped the
        promotion for three years which is illegal and unjustified on the part
        of management. It is also stated that there was no clause of transfer
        in the offer letter of the management which was given to the
        workman at the time of appointment, hence, the transfer is illegal
        and unjustified. It is further stated that workman served protest and
        demand notice/letter dated 19.05.2016 with a demand of full wages
        for the month of March and April 2016 on the management which
        stand unrefuted and uncontroverted by it.

   5.            It is also averred that when workman approached to the union,
        the union espoused the case in which the workman gave the
        authority to the union to file the case regarding the illegal and
        unjustified transfer and stopped the promotion for three years vide
        espousal dated 20.05.2016. It was prayed that workman is entitled
        for promotion and not to be transferred any other place except Delhi
        where he used to work since the date of his appointment by declaring
        Memo dated 06.05.2016 as illegal and unjustified. Hence, claim was
        filed by workman before the Tribunal.




POIT-1111/2016                                               Page No. 3/19
    6.            Written Statement was filed by the management wherein it
        was stated that workman has not come with clean hands before the
        court as he has suppressed the material facts and present claim is not
        maintainable. On merits, it was stated that workman was appointed
        with management on 25.07.2015 and appointment letter was duly
        signed by the workman wherein transfer of workman was mentioned
        in clause 2.

   7.             It is stated that workman, with support of Branch Head Mr.
        Sanjay Kumar and Asst. Branch Head Mr. Vikas Kumar purposely
        granted gold loans for an amount of Rs. 41,10,625/- against spurious
        items in favour of the customers and act of the workman has resulted
        in huge monitory loss apart from the damages caused to the
        reputation of management company. It is stated that on 25.02.2016,
        Mr. Narayana Gouda, Internal Auditor of management company has
        reported a cash shortage of amounting to Rs. 2,62,998/- in Rohini,
        Sector-3, Branch of the management and Branch Head explained
        that Mr. Rajesh Kumar (Customer) has given ornaments against
        which cash was released but the pledge was not done in the system.
        It is stated that in order to compensate the cash shortage, the Branch
        Head with the help of Assistant Branch Head and the workman
        created three pledges for an amount of Rs. 99,999/-, Rs. 99,999/- and
        Rs. 63,000/- respectively which are reportedly dummy pledges
        without any ornaments which were subsequently settled without
        receiving the cash by Branch Head for avoiding internal audit
        thereby the Branch Head with the support of Assistant Branch Head
        and the workman has given cash to the said Rajesh without
        collecting gold ornaments.

POIT-1111/2016                                              Page No. 4/19
    8.            It is further stated that after that Branch Head with the support
        of Assistant Branch Head and workman has also settled five pledge
        accounts in the name of Mr. Rajesh for an amount of Rs. 5,00,644/-
        of which ornaments are reportedly spurious without receiving cash in
        order to escape from the audit. It is stated that after releasing the
        above pledges, the cash shortage of branch, at the end of day reached
        Rs. 7,62,848/- which was reported by the internal auditor and after
        detailed inspection, more spurious accounts were reported in the
        branch, three spurious pledges were found in the name of Mr.
        Praveen for an amount of Rs. 9,49,804/-, one account in the name of
        Pawan Kumar amounting to Rs. 4,98,478/-, one account in the name
        of Ramesh Kumar for Rs. 4,63,363/-, one loan amount in the name
        of Vijay Kumar amounting to Rs. 3,90,232/- and three loan accounts
        in the name of Sonu amounting to Rs. 10,44,900/- total amounting
        to Rs. 33,46,777/- as pure spurious.

   9.              Thereafter, a memo dated 03.03.2016 was issued to the
        workman mentioning that the workman has colluded with Branch
        Head and Assistant Branch Head and committed gross misconducts
        involving financial misappropriation of the funds of the management
        company purposely granting Gold Loans against spurious items in
        favour of customers aggregating Rs. 41,10,625/- and workman was
        placed under suspension with immediate effect. It was also reported
        in said memo that workman was negligent in performing his
        assigned duties with ulterior intention to misappropriate the funds of
        the management company. It is stated that workman was intimated
        by letter dated 19.03.2016 that enquiry would be conducted on
        05.04.2016 from 10.00 a.m. onwards. It is stated that workman

POIT-1111/2016                                                  Page No. 5/19
          despite being given opportunity to remain present at inquiry, the
         workman remained absent from hearing without submitting any
         application/explanation or any other reason. It is stated that
         management also lodged an FIR No. 0235/2016 under section
         40/420/468/471/120B IPC dated 08.06.2016 against the workman
         and staff members involved in frauding the management. It is stated
         that a reporting memo dated 06.05.2016 was issued to the workman
         mentioning    that   management    has   confirmed       his   proposed
         punishment of baring his promotion/transfer for the next three years
         and his suspension was revoked with immediate effect and workman
         was transferred to Hebbal Mysore Branch, Mangalore region but
         workman neither pay any heed upon the reporting memo nor join the
         management. Thereafter, workman issued a notice dated 25.06.2016
         mentioning that workman has not reported for duty and not
         submitted satisfactory explanation as directed, accordingly, name of
         workman was removed from the rolls of the management w.e.f.
         25.06.2016 and payment of subsistence allowance to suspended
         employee was transferred in the account of workman by
         management. Rest of the contentions of the statement of claim were
         denied.

   10.           Rejoinder was also filed to the written statement of
         management wherein contents of claim were reiterated and
         reaffirmed and those of written statement were denied.

   11.           After the pleadings of parties, the following issues were
         framed by Ld. predecessor on 09.04.2018:-




POIT-1111/2016                                                Page No. 6/19
            (i) Whether the enquiry conducted by the management is not fair
                 and proper?OPW

           (ii) In case the answer to issue No. 1 is in the affirmative, whether
           the workman has committed the misconduct as alleged by the
           management?OPM

           (iii) Whether the claim of the workman has been properly
           espoused by the Union?OPW

           (iv) As per terms of reference. OPW

           (v) Relief.



   12.           To prove his case, the workman examined himself as WW1
         and filed an affidavit Ex. WW1/A in his examination in chief. He
         was cross-examined and discharged. WW-2 Sh. Tarsem Raj also
         appeared in witness box on behalf of workman. Despite opportunity,
         AR for management did not appear to cross-examine the WW-2,
         hence, one more opportunity was granted to management for cross-
         examination of WW-2 subject to cost of Rs. 5000/- vide order dated
         19.05.2022. Thereafter, on 03.06.2022, the AR for management
         appeared and stated that he does not want to cross-examine WW-2,
         hence, opportunity to cross-examine the WW-2 was forfeitted and
         W.E. was closed and matter was posted for M.E.

   13.             In defence, management neither appeared nor produced any
         witness. The Ld. Predecessor court also observed that workman has
         not received advance copy of the evidence affidavit and no affidavit


POIT-1111/2016                                                Page No. 7/19
          was filed, hence, M.E. was closed vide order dated 16.09.2022 and
         matter was posted for final arguments.

   14.             I have gone through the entire records of the case including
         pleadings of the parties, evidence led and documents proved during
         evidence. Arguments of respectives parties have been heard at
         length.

   15.           Now moving on to the factual matrix of the case, it is the case
         of the workman that he had been in employment of the management
         at Delhi as Junior Assistant @ Rs. 10,386/- per month for the last
         since 25.07.2015 continuously with a flawless record of service. It is
         pleaded that workman was given a memo dated 03.03.2016 by post
         with a false and frivolous allegation of misappropriation of Rs.
         41,10,625/- in connivance with other employees which was
         appropriately replied by the workman to the management. It is
         pleaded that workman lodged a complaint to the Labour Office in
         this regard and on 29.07.2016 on Sh. Raghav Aggarwal, Legal
         Manager appeared and stated taht enquiry has already been closed
         and shall pay the wages of suspension period, even though
         suspension is closed. It is further pleaded that no enquiry on the
         charges was conducted by management so the question of closing the
         enquiry does not arise at all and instead of it, the management by
         imposing the punishment, transferred the workman at Hibbal, Mesur
         Branch and also stopped the promotion for three years for which the
         workman also replied the same to management on 29.04.2016. It
         was also pleaded that there was no clause of transfer in the offer




POIT-1111/2016                                                 Page No. 8/19
          letter of the management which was given to the workman at the
         time of appointment, hence, the transfer is illegal and unjustified.

   16.           On the contrary, it is the case of management that workman,
         with support of Branch Head Mr. Sanjay Kumar and Asst. Branch
         Head Mr. Vikas Kumar purposely granted gold loans for an amount
         of Rs. 41,10,625/- against spurious items in favour of the customers
         and act of the workman has resulted in huge monitory loss apart
         from the damages caused to the reputation of management company.
         It is pleaded that on 25.02.2016, Mr. Narayana Gouda, Internal
         Auditor of management company has reported a cash shortage of
         amounting to Rs. 2,62,998/- in Rohini, Sector-3, Branch of the
         management and Branch Head explained that Mr. Rajesh Kumar
         (Customer) has given ornaments against which cash was released but
         the pledge was not done in the system. It is pleaded that in order to
         compensate the cash shortage, the Branch Head with the help of
         Assistant Branch Head and the workman created three pledges for an
         amount of Rs. 99,999/-, Rs. 99,999/- and Rs. 63,000/- respectively
         which are reportedly dummy pledges without any ornaments which
         were subsequently settled without receiving the cash by Branch
         Head for avoiding internal audit thereby the Branch Head with the
         support of Assistant Branch Head and the workman has given cash to
         the said Rajesh without collecting gold ornaments.

   17.            It is further the case of management that after that Branch
         Head with the support of Assistant Branch Head and workman has
         also settled five pledge accounts in the name of Mr. Rajesh for an
         amount of Rs. 5,00,644/- of which ornaments are reportedly spurious


POIT-1111/2016                                                 Page No. 9/19
        without receiving cash in order to escape from the audit.
       Thereafter, a memo dated 03.03.2016 was issued to the workman
       mentioning that the workman has colluded with Branch Head and
       Assistant Branch Head and committed gross misconducts involving
       financial misappropriation of the funds of the management company
       purposely granting Gold Loans against spurious items in favour of
       customers aggregating Rs. 41,10,625/- and workman was placed
       under suspension with immediate effect. It is pleaded that workman
       was intimated by letter dated 19.03.2016 that enquiry would be
       conducted on 05.04.2016 from 10.00 a.m. onwards and workman
       despite being given opportunity to remain present at inquiry, the
       workman remained absent from hearing without submitting any
       application/explanation or any other reason. It is pleaded that
       management also lodged an FIR No. 0235/2016 under section
       40/420/468/471/120B IPC dated 08.06.2016 against the workman
       and staff members involved in frauding the management. It is further
       pleaded that a reporting memo dated 06.05.2016 was issued to the
       workman mentioning that management has confirmed his proposed
       punishment of baring his promotion/transfer for the next three years
       and his suspension was revoked with immediate effect and workman
       was transferred to Hebbal Mysore Branch, Mangalore region but
       workman neither pay any heed upon the reporting memo nor join the
       management. Thereafter, workman issued a notice dated 25.06.2016
       mentioning that workman has not reported for duty and not
       submitted satisfactory explanation as directed, accordingly, name of
       workman was removed from the rolls of the management w.e.f.
       25.06.2016 and payment of subsistence allowance to suspended


POIT-1111/2016                                            Page No. 10/19
          employee was transferred in the account of workman by
         management.

   18.           My issue wise findings are as under:-

   19.                Issue No. (3) Whether the claim of the workman has
         been properly espoused by the Union?OPW:-

   20.       Issue No. 3 is taken up first. The onus to prove this issue was on
         the workman. The management has taken this contention that the
         present dispute has not been properly espoused by the union. On the
         other hand, the A.R. of the Workman in order to prove the proper
         espousal of the dispute has placed reliances upon Ex. WW1/1 i.e. the
         complaint made to Labour Commissioner against the management
         which is on the letter head of union and bearing signature and stamp
         of President of Union namely Tarsem Raj (WW-2). Copy of claim
         filed before Labour Commissioner Ex. WW-1/3 has been placed on
         record and perusal of same shows that said claim was also filed
         through union of workma. Ex. WW-2/1 is the resolution passed by
         the Union for raising an industrial dispute in favour of the workman
         and against the workman and it is bearing signatures of President,
         General Secretary and Secretary of the union. Further reliance upon
         the judgement of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in Omji Srivastava
         and Ors. vs. P.W.D./C.P.W.D., 2023/DHC/002013, wherein the
         Hon'ble Delhi High Court after relying upon the case of Hon'ble
         Supreme Court in J.H. Jadhav v. M/s Forbes Gokak Ltd., Civil
         Appeal No. 1089 of 2005, decided on 11.02.2005 has held that the
         cause of the workman is properly espoused by the union. The
         relevant portion of the judgment is reproduced below:

POIT-1111/2016                                               Page No. 11/19
              "20. Based on the said legal principle, this Court examined the
                evidence adduced by the Petitioners/Workmen. The
                Petitioners/Workmen proved on record Exhibit WW-2/1
                (Statement of Claim dated 23.12.2002 filed by the Hindustan
                Engineering General Mazdoor Union on behalf of the
                Petitioner before the Conciliation officer), Exhibit
                WW2/2(AD card for the legal notice issued by the Union),
                Exhibit WW-2/3 (Authorisation letter dated 23.12.2002
                issued by the Petitioners/Workmen to Hindustan Engineering
                General Mazdoor Union), Exhibit WW2/4 to Exhibit WW2/7
                (Demand letters dated 23.12.2002 & 05.02.2002 issued by
                the Hindustan General Mazdoor Union to the Respondent

No. 1 Management espousing the cause of the Petitioners/Workmen). These documents show that the Petitioners/Workmen authorized the Hindustan General Mazdoor Union to take up the cause. In pursuance of the said authorisation, the said union issued demand letters and filed the claim petition before the Conciliation Officer. Based on the said claim Petition, the appropriate Government referred the said dispute to the learned Labour Court for adjudication. Just because there was no witness from the Union, it cannot be said that the cause of the Petitioners/Workmen has not been espoused by the Union.

21. As held by Hon'ble Supreme Court in J.M Jhadav Vs Forbes Gokak Ltd reported as MANU/SC/0103/2005 : 2005 (3) SCC 202, there is no particular form prescribed to effect the espousal. Generally, Union passes resolutions, however sometimes proof of support by the Union may also be available aliunde. It would depend upon the facts of each case. In the present case, even though no resolution was placed on record on behalf of the Union, from the documents placed on record by the Petitioners/Workmen, i.e. Exhibit WW2/1 to WW2/7, it is evident that the Hindustan General Mazdoor Union has espoused the cause of the Petitioners/Workmen."

21. The similar issue came up before the Division Bench of Hon'ble Kerala High Court in the matter of Mangalam POIT-1111/2016 Page No. 12/19 Publications (India) Pvt. Ltd. v. Saju George, W.A. No. 964 of 2020, decided on 01.12.2020 and held:-

"7......There is no doubt about the fact that the workman was a member of the concerned WA No.964/2020 union. According to the workman, the cause of the workman was undertaken by the union even at the initial stage. Apparently, there was no objection from the side of the management during the relevant time. Thereafter, the matter was considered and ultimately the dispute had been referred for consideration by the Tribunal. Once a reference had been made at the instance of the union, it is not open for the management to contend at this stage of the proceedings that the cause of the workman had not been espoused by the union."

22. Moreover, the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of Pratap Singh & Anr. vs. Municipal Corporation of Delhi , WP(C) No. 676/2013 vide order dated 04.02.2013 revered the findings of the Ld. Labour Court on the issue of espousal by categorizing it as hypertechnical and held that the cause of the workman is properly espoused by the union. The relevant portion of the jugedment is reproduced below:

"Learned counsel for the respondent fairly cannot dispute the position that the view taken by the Labour Court on the issue of espousal of the petitioners cause is hyper technical. There is no dispute about the fact that the union had held its meeting on 22.10.2005 and decided to espouse the petitioners cause, on which date, the espousal letter was also issued by the union. Merely because Sh. B.K. Prasad may not have been the president of the union on the said date and he became the president in the year 2007, would make no difference. Such a hyper technical view defeats the objective of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The mere wrong description of the designation of Sh. B.K. Prasad in POIT-1111/2016 Page No. 13/19 the espousal letter would not render the fact of espousal of the petitioners cause unreliable.
Pertinently, the MCD General Mazdoor Union is a recognized union and the said union has not come forward to claim that they had not espoused the cause of the petitioners on 22.10.2005. Accordingly, the decision of the Labour Court on issue no.2 is reversed. It is held that the petitioners cause was duly espoused by the MCD General Mazdoor Union."

23. The management has taken the objection in regard to espousal in their written statement, however, it does not disclose the ground/ reason upon which this objection is taken. Whereas, the workman has placed on record several documents as discussed above, more specifically resolution Ex. WW-2/1 wherein the members of union unanimously decided to raise an industrial dispute in favour of the workman. The Prsident of the union was also examined as WW-2 who corroborated the testimony of the workman and he was never cross-examined by manageament despite grant of several opportunities.

24. Even otherwise, the management did not take any such objection when the proceedings were conducted before the conciliation officer. Therefore, at this belated stage the management is not allowed to take this contention more so in the absence of basis/reason for stating that the present dispute is not espoused properly by the union. In view of above, this tribunal is of the opinion that the contention of the management is a mere technical one, and does not stand in light of the evidence placed by the workman on record. Therefore, this tribunal holds that the dispute is POIT-1111/2016 Page No. 14/19 properly espoused by the Union of the workman. Hence, this issue is decided in favour of the workman and against the management.

25. Issue No. (1) Whether the enquiry conducted by the management is not fair and proper?OPW and Issue No. (2) In case the answer to issue No. 1 is in the affirmative, whether the workman has committed the misconduct as alleged by the management?OPM and Issue No. (4). As per terms of reference. OPW

26. All these issues are taken up together being inter-connected.

27. In order to prove his case, workman himself appeared in witness box and filed his evidence by way of affidavit Ex. WW-1/A. He also relied upon several documents as detailed in his affidavit Ex. WW-1/1 to WW-1/19. The complaint made to Labour Department against the management through union is proved on record as Ex. WW-1/1, the proceeiding sheet of labour department has been proved on record as Ex. WW-1/2. The statement of claim filed before Labour Department is proved on record as Ex. WW-1/3. The workman has also proved on record copy of his appointment letter dated 25.07.2015 which is Ex. WW-1/4, the copy of notice of removal from rolls of the company was proved as Ex. WW-1/5, reply to memo dated 03.03.2016 was proved as Ex. WW-1/6 and its postal receipts were proved as Ex. WW-1/7 to WW-1/9. Further the reply dated 28.03.2016 to memo dated 04.03.2016 and domestic inquiry was proved as Ex. WW-1/10 and postal receipts were proved as Ex. WW-1/11 and WW-1/12. Reply dated 29.04.2016 in regard to memo dated 25.04.2016 was proved as Ex. WW-1/13 and its postal receipts POIT-1111/2016 Page No. 15/19 were proved as EX. WW-1/14 and WW-1/15. The demand notice issued by workman upon management dated 20.05.2016 is proved as Ex. WW-1/16 and its postal receipt and acknowledgment are proved as Ex. WW-1/17 and WW-1/18 and another notice dated 25.05.2016 served upon management by workman is proved as Ex. WW-1/19. All these documents have been duly proved on record.

28. In cross-examination of WW-1, it has come that WW-1 was engaged in Rohini Branch for maintaining cash and also visit the customers and he was also sent for collecting cash from other branches. He admitted that management can transfer the workman in any branch and he did not join Hibbal Mysore Branch when management offered him to join there and voluntarily deposed that because of certain conditions, he did not join and conditions were that there was no promotion for three years and three years no transfer and management was asking for alleged recovery of approx Rs. 8 to 10 lacs). He also deposed that it was his duty to check the purity of gold and voluntarily deposed that he was fresher at that time and Branch Head also checked the gold. He was put specific question whether he challenged the internal inquiry report dated 08.04.2016 held by managment to which he deposed that he replied in writing. He denied the suggestion that he was terminated due to his negligent conduct. So from his cross-examination, it is clear that he did not join the services at transferred placed as stringent conditions were imposed on him which were not acceptale to workman.

POIT-1111/2016 Page No. 16/19

29. WW-2 Sh. Tarsem Raj is the President of Delhi Mazdoor Sangh (Regd.) and he has proved the resolution Ex. WW-2/1. This was not cross-examined by management despite grant of several opportunities and imposing costs. Hence the witness was discharged unexamined and W.E. was closed.

30. On the other hand, in support of their case, the management neither appeared nor produced any witness. The Ld. Predecessor court also observed that workman had not received advance copy of the evidence affidavit and no affidavit was filed, hence, M.E. was closed vide order dated 16.09.2022. Thereafter also, management did not moved any application for re-opening of their evidence. Furthermore, the mangement has not bothered to file any affidavit of evidence or to produce any witness on their behalf despite grant of various opportunities. It is not made out as to why so called inquiry proceedings were conducted at Kerela only though admittedly, the workman was working with management at Delhi. So the management has remained reluctant in proving their case.

31. As far as question of registration of FIR against workman is concerned, same is separate criminal proceedings and have no bearing with present case and at the end, if workman is proved guilty, he will definitely have to undergo sentence as described in relevant provisions of law.

32. Furthermore, the inquiry proceedings have not been proved on record as per law and management has failed to prove their case. It is to be seen that though the inquiry report has not been proved by managment but same has been filed by management, so it can be POIT-1111/2016 Page No. 17/19 read against the management but not against the workman. The allegations levelled against the workman require full fledged inquiry. The management has not proved on record as to whether memo of charges were served on the workman. There is no reasoning given in the inquiry report. No witness apart from MW-1 was produced in inquiry proceedings or in this court to prove the misappropriation or negligence by workman. The onus was on the management to prove the issue but they have failed to do. The workman was only required to rebut the same, so the workman has been successul in proving the demolition of case of management. For want of contrary evidence from the side of management, his claim has remained unrebutted and unchallenged.

33. Therefore, in view of the of the admitted position and the material on record, this tribunal holds that the management has clearly committed unfair labour practice by imposing penalty upon the workman vide memo dated 06.05.2016 and same is illegal and unjustified. It is also held that the enquiry conducted by the management is not fair and proper. Since issuse No. 1 is proved in favour of workman and it has come on record that inquiry was conducted at Kerela only and workman did not participate in said proceedings and further the said inquiry proceedings have not been proved on record by management by leading evidence, filing affidavit and producing witness, hence it is also held that the workman has not committed the misconduct as alleged by the management. Accordingly, these issues are proved in favour of workman and against the management.

POIT-1111/2016 Page No. 18/19

34. Relief: - In view of my foregoing findings on aforesaid issues, this Tribunal holds that the punishment imposed upon the workman Sh. Satyender Kumar Patel S/o Sh. Bechai Patel by the management vide memo No. S./Enq./315381/6/2016 dated 06.05.2016 is illegal and unsatisfied and natural consequences will follow. No reference with respect to other relief has been forwarded to this Tribunal. The workman is at liberty to take the steps. The terms of reference is decided in favour of the workman and against the management. The award is passed accordingly.

35. Copy of this award be sent to the appropriate Government for publication. File be consigned to the Record Room.

                                                                          Digitally
                                                                          signed by
                                                                 AJAY     AJAY GOEL
                                                                          Date:
                                                                 GOEL     2023.11.17
                                                                          15:26:41
                                                                          +0530
Announced in open Tribunal
on this 16.11.2023                                    (Ajay Goel)
                                              POIT-I/RADC, New Delhi.




POIT-1111/2016                                                Page No. 19/19